Sinn Féin Housing spokesperson Dessie Ellis TD has criticised the government’s response to the housing crisis, as highlighted by a Social Justice Ireland report published today.

He also described recent government measures in housing as “far too little and very late” stating that they smacked of a cynical ploy with local and European elections looming.

Deputy Ellis said:

“Week in week out I and other Sinn Fein TD’s have been raising housing issues with this government. We have been demanding they act on the issues of the devastating shortage of housing for renters and those who can’t afford the private market prices.

“I have raised the issue of increasing numbers of homelessness and rough sleeping countless times with the Minister for Housing as well as the Buy to Let Mortgage crisis which threatens a huge number of tenants across the state.

“For the life time of this government these issues were ignored as were proposals to tackle them. We called for a code of conduct on the failing Buy to Let Mortgage schemes but the government did not act.

“Last year we presented a plan to build 9000 social houses in 18 months which the Fine Gael and Labour government voted against.

“The latest move by the government to renovate 952 vacant social houses is too little, far too late.

“We welcome even one more home becoming available but we have had 3 years of this government doing next to nothing on this issue.

“Two years ago they told us they could deliver 2000 homes through NAMA, they have yet to deliver even 500.

“Housing needs major investment.

“Ignoring this will have a much greater cost both in the suffering of people who are homeless or living in bad, insecure housing and in the expense of trying to control the crisis rather than fixing it.”